Colloid-treating apparatus



Feb. 19, 1929.

H. w. A. DIXON COLLOID TREATING APPARATUS Filed March 23, 1927 Patented Feb. 19, 1929.

HAROLDW. A. DIXON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y,

COLLOID-TREATING arrnwrus Application filed March 23, 1927. Serial No. 177,728.

My invention was particularly designed for the commercial production of colloid compositions such as the color pastes which are used for coating carbon paper and ink ribbons. Such compositions primarily include particles of solid matter such as carbon dye substances, in suspension in a waxy substance, which is liquid when hot and during the spreading of the coating upon the desired web of paper or textile fabric, and thereafter becomes solid when chilled.

Ordinarily, the carbon, coloring matter and wax-like ingredients of the prospective coating are primarily mixed, in a more or less lumpy state, in kettles which are heated, by steam or otherwise, and provided with means to agitate their contents. The crude magma thus formed is more or less granular and irregular in composition. Therefore, it must be further treated to reduce the size of the particles and render the mass more homogeneous. An essential step in such treatment is the repeated passage of the mass between the members of a milling couple, until the particles in the colloid are reduced to dimensions of the order of, say, one micron. During such treatment, it is necessary, or at least highly desirable, to maintain the mass heated above atmospheric temperatures to eifect such treatment economicall Therefore, the object and efibct of my present invention are to provide an apparatus including a suitable milling couple in conjunction with means for repeatedly passing the colloid through said mill while maintaining the colloid at a proper temperature.

In the drawings; Fig, I is adiagrammatic plan view of an apparatus conveniently embodying my invention.

Fig. II is a fragmentary and somewhat diagrammatic sectional view of the mill indicated in Fi I.

Fi III is a plan view of the valve structure indicated in Fig. I, but with the rotary valve body turned to the alternative posi-' tion.

Referring to Fig. I; the two colloid containers 1 and 2, which are preferably steam heated kettles or tanks, are arranged to be alternately connected, by the valve structure 3, with the mill 4, so that, with said valve in the osition shown, the colloid is withdrawn rom the container 1, passed between the milling couple 5 and 6 in said mill, .and discharged into the container 2, by the operation of the pressure pump. 8 and suction pump 9, and, withthe valve structure 3 in an alternative position, shown in Fig. III, the colloid is WlthdlBWD. from said container 2, passed between the members 5. and 6 of said milling couple, in the samedirection as before, but returned to said container 1. Said valve may be turned by the handle 7 to the extent limited by the stop lugs 10.

To effect such operation; said container 1 is provided with the conduit 11, controlled by the cock 12 and leading to the port 13 in the end closure 14 of the valve casing 15. Said port 13 is in registry with the ort at the end of the duct 17 which extends t rough the rotary valve body 18 in registry with the port 20 in said closure '14 which is provided with the conduit 21 leading. through said pressure pump 8, to the inlet ort 22 in the casing of said mill 4. Sand port 22 opens into the mill pressure chamber 23,

and the colloid passes thence through the interstice 25 between said milling members 5 and 6, which are continuously maintained in axially spaced relation. The conoidal configuration of the opposed metallic milling surfaces of said members 5 and 6 is such that when they are rotated at suflicient velocity, there is a centrifugal effect which progresses the colloid in an evolute path into the vacuum chamber 26 from which it is exhausted, through the conduit 28, by said pump 9, so as to produce a partial vacuum in said vacuum chamber 26. Said conduit 28 leads throu 11 said exhaust pump 9 to the port 29 in said end closure 14 of the valve casing 15. Said port 29 is in registry with t e ten s throu b said rotary valve body 18 in registry wit the port 31 in said closure 14 which 15 providedwith the conduit 33 controlled by the cock 34 and leading into said container 2.

Said pumps 8 and 9 are convenientl of the type including a pair of intermeshe gears, which progress the colloid in the space between their teeth, one of the pair of gears being provided with a driving shaft by which it is positively rotated and the other being ort at the end of the duct 30 which ex-' arranged to rotate idly in mesh with the positively driven ear. As shown in Fig. I; said pump 8 has t e driving shaft 35, and said pump 9 has the driying shaft 36, and said shafts are respectively provided with the gears 37 and 38 in mesh with the gear 40 on the armature shaft 41 of the electric motor 42 which is thus arranged to drive both of said pumps. However, said pumps may be othgrwise constructed, arranged and actuate In order to maintain said conduits and ducts at the proper temperature; I provide the conduit 44, having the controlling valve 45, through which a suppl of steam, oil,'or other temperature contro ling fluid is directed, and extend said conduit parallel with said conduit 33 and into the inlet port 46 in said casing 15 in communication with the semiannular recess 47 which is in coaxial relation with said casing. The temperature controlling fluid passes thence through the outlet port 48 in said casing and the conduit 49 which extends parallel with said conduit 21 and into the inlet port 51 in the casing of said mill 4, in communication with the recess 52 which is concentric with the axis of said,

mill. Said fluid passes from the mill through the outlet port 53 in the mill casing and the conduit 54 which extends parallel with said conduit 28 and into the inlet port 55, in communication with the semi-annular reces 56 which is in concentric relation with said valve casing 15. Said fluid passes thence through the outlet port57 and the conduit 58 which extends parallel with said conduit 11, and is thence discharged through the valve 59.

If steam is used as the temperature controlling medium; said conduit 44 may be connected to a boiler and saidipipe 58 vented into the atmosphere. If oil or other similar fluid be employed as the thermal medium said conduits 44 and 59 may be connected in a circuit with a pump and heater. However, any suitable means may be employed for progressing the temperature controlling fluid through the apparatus described.

i In order to conserve the heat thus applied to the apparatus; I prefer to encase all of the conduits with heat insulating material, for instance, the ordinary asbestos or magnesium carbonate compositions, and said temperature controlling conduits are extended parallel with the conduits for the liquid under treatment. in order that each pair of said conduits may be encased in a single tubular cover of'the insulating material, as indicated at 61.

Although I have found it convenient to organize the apparatus with members of the specific character described; I do not desire to limit myself to the precise details of construction and arrangement herein set forth, as itis obvious that various modifications may be made therein, without departing from the essential features of my invention, as de fined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In colloid treating apparatus; the combination with a relatively rotary milling ,couple; of means, including a casing, forming a pressure upon one side of said couple and a vacuum chamber upon the opposite side of said couple, with an inlet to said pressure chamber and an outlet from said vacuum chamber, and a space, in the wall of said casing, for a thermal fluid; a pressure pump connected with said mill inlet; a suction pump connected with said mill outlet; said pumps being of the intermeshed gear type; a single electric motor operativel connected to both of said pumps, whereby t ey are arranged to be actuated in cooperative relation; two containers; means arranged to alternately con- 'nect said containers with said pumps, including a valvelcasing, having a space inits wall for a thermal fluid; a rotary valve in said casing; and conduits leading from said containers to said valve casing and from said valve casing to said pumps; conduits for a thermal fluid, extending from one of said containers to the other, in adjacent parallel relation with said colloid conduits and in communication with said spaces in said valve casing and mill casing; said thermal fluid conduits being in substantial heating contact with said colloid conduits, throughout the major portion of the length of said colloid conduits; and tubular heat insulating covers respectively arranged to each encase a colloid conduit and adjacent thermal fluid conduit; and valves in said thermal conduits; whereby the entire apparatus may be heated, and a colloid be passed from one of said containers to the other in alternation. but in the same direction between said milling couple, until the articles of the colloid are comminuted and ispersed therein to the deslred degree. Y

2. In colloid treating apparatus; the combination with a relatively rotary milling couple; of means, including a casing, forming an inlet chamber upon one side of said couple and an outlet chamber upon the opposite side' of said couple, and a space, in the wall of said casing, for a thermal fluid; a pump connected with said mill inlet; a pump connected with said mill outlet; a single motor operatively connected to both of said pumps, whereby they are arranged to be actuated in cooperative relation; two contamers; means: arranged to alternately connect sa1d containers with said pumps, including a valve casing; having a space in its wall for a thermal fluid; a rotary valve in said casing; and

conduits leading from said containers to said valve casing and from said-valve casing. to said pumps; conduits for a thermal fluid, extendm from one of said containers to the other, 1n adjacent parallel relation with said colloid conduits and in communication with said spaces in said valve casing and m ll casing; said thermal fluid conduits being in substantial h ating contact with sa1d colloid conduits, t roughout the major portion of the length of said colloid condults; and tubular heat insulating covers respectwely arranged to each encase a colloid conduit and adjacent thermal fluid conduit; and valves in said thermal conduits; whereby the entire apparatus may be heated, and a colloid be passed from one of said containers to the other in alternation, but in the same direction between said milling couple, until the particles of the colloid are comminuted and dispersed therein to the desired degree.

3. In colloid treating apparatus; the combination with a relatively rotary milling couple; of means, including a casing, forming an inlet chamber upon one side of said couple and an outlet chamber upon the opposite side of said cou 1e, and a space, in the wall of said casing, or a thermal fluid; a

pump connected with said mill inlet, a pump connected with said mill outlet; two containers; means arranged to alternately connect said containers with said pumps, including a valve casing, having a space for a thermal fluid;-colloid conduits leading from said containers to said valve casing and from said valve casing to said pumps; conduits for a thermal fluid, extending from one of said containers to the other, in adjacent relation with said colloid conduits and in communication with said spaces in said valve casing and mill casing; said thermal fluid conduits being insubstantial heating contact with'said colloid conduits, throughout the major portion of the len 'th of said colloid conduits; and valves in said thermal conduits; whereby the entire apparatus maybe heated, and a colloid be passed between said milling couple, from one of said containers to the other. v

4. In colloid treating apparatus; the combination with a relatively rotary milling couple; of means, including a casing, forming an inlet chamber upon one side of said couple and an outlet chamber upon the opposite side of said couple, and a space in the wall of said casing, for a thermal fluid; pump 7 means connected with said mill inlet and said mill outlet; two containers; means arranged to alternately connect said containers with said mill, including a valve casing, and colloid conduits leading from said containers to said valve casing and from said valve casing to said mill; conduits for a thermal fluid, extending from one of said containers to the other, in adjacent parallel relation with said colloid conduits and in communication with said space in said mill casing; said thermal fluid conduits being in substantial heating contact with said colloid conduits, throughout the majorportion of the length of said colloid conduits; whereby the entire apparatus may be heated, and a colloid be passed from one of said containers to the other, through said mill.

5. In colloid treating apparatus; the combination with a relatively rotary milling couple; of means, including a casing, forming an inlet chamber upon one side of said couple and an outlet chamber upon the opposite side of said couple; pump means connected with s'aid'mill inlet and said mill outlet; two containers; valve means arranged to al ternatelyconnect said containers with said mill; colloid conduits leading from said containers to said mill; and conduits for a thermal fluid, extending from'one of said containers to the other, in cooperative relation with said colloid conduits;-said thermal fluid conduits being in substantial heating contact with said colloid conduits, throughout the major portion of the length of said colloid conduits; heat insulating covers common to said colloid conduits and thermal fluid conduits; whereby the entire apparatus may be heated, and a colloid be passed from one of saidcontainers to the other, through said mill.

6. In colloid treating apparatus; the combination with a relatively rotary milling couple; of means, including a casing, forming an inletchamber upon one side of said couple and an outlet chamber upon-the opposite side of said couple; pump means connected with said mill inlet and said mill outlet; two containers; valve means arran ed to alternately connect said containers wit said mill; colloid conduits leading from said containers to said mill; and conduits for a thermal fluid, extending from one of said containers to the other, in cooperative relation with said colloid conduits; said thermal fluid conduits being in substantial heatin contact with said colloid conduits, throng out the major portion of the length of sa1d colloid conduits; whereby the entire apparatus may be heated, and a colloid be passed from one of 1said containers to the other, through said mi 1.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name at New York, New York, this 23rd day of February, 1926.

' HAROLD W. A. DIXON. 

